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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2021–Mar 26th, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Kananaskis.

Winds are forecast to increase into the moderate range out of the NW on Friday which will likely increase the windslab reactivity throughout the day. Pay close attention as you transition into treeline and alpine areas. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Winds are forecast to increase slightly on Friday into the moderate range out of the NW but not much in the way of new snow. Temperatures will be cooler with daytime highs around -8 and freezing levels around 2000m.  

Avalanche Summary

Nothing in the way of new slab avalanche activity but when the sun came out, loose dry avalanches were observed from steeper terrain. The sun is critical at this time of the year as it can have intense solar radiation which can destabalize the snowpack quickly so keep an eye on temperatures as well as aspects. 

Snowpack Summary

Only a few cm of snow has fallen over the past 24hrs with generally light winds. The key things to be aware of are windslabs in the upper snowpack along ridgelines and in crossloaded features. Some cracking has been observed in immediate lees but the slabs do not extend far downslope. The March 19th interface is down 20-40cm and producing moderate sheers. The quality of the sheer is different where it overlies a suncrust or a more wintery snowpack.  

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.